These 5 players will define Florida’s offensive identity
The arrival of Billy Napier in Gainesville brought the usual buzz of excitement that a new regime always carries with it. But now the rubber is about to meet the road and all the good vibes and big talk in the world won’t win the Gators’ games for them. The coaching and roster in place now will define what Florida’s identity becomes under Napier and his top assistants, Rob Sale and Patrick Toney.
On the offensive side of the ball, Sale is spearheading the coaching and schematic decisions that have shaped the current state of the team. Whether it will pay dividends is about to be seen, but it’s already clear which players will be the pivot points for the identity of the Napier/Sale offense.
The five players we’ve singled out here aren’t necessarily who you’d call the most important, but some make more of an impact than their standing with the team and fame with fans might indicate.
QB Anthony Richardson
James Gilbert/Getty Images
Whether there’s credit to be given or blame to be shared, the first place football fans look is the quarterback. It can be a tough row to hoe for some, but Richardson is in great shape to have a quality season in his first year of NFL draft eligibility. He’s nimble outside the pocket and he’s able to bomb the ball downfield, which are two qualities essential in a modern quarterback.
The questions surrounding [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] are whether he can stay healthy and whether improved mental processing can lead to better throwing accuracy. Both are areas where he’s had problems in the past, and if he’s sidelined for any reason, it’s a long dropoff to backup [autotag]Jalen Kitna[/autotag].
Further reading: The Hope and Promise of Anthony Richardson
RB Montrell Johnson
(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
The Gators haven’t tried to hide that they’ll be running the ball a lot this year. All signs point to Johnson, who followed Napier from the Cajuns to the Gators, being a key part of the offensive backfield. [autotag]Montrell Johnson[/autotag] was a bundle of terror coming off the line of scrimmage last season, but it’s a big jump from running through Sun Belt defensive lines to the challenges SEC defenses can offer.
Whether Johnson is the starter is largely irrelevant — modern offenses are migrating more and more toward the “running back by committee” philosophy. He and fellow back [autotag]Nay’Quan Wright[/autotag] are probably going to share a relatively even load this season. The reason Johnson makes this list is because we already know Wright can play at this level. Whether Johnson is able to make that leap will be a big factor in determining if this offense can work as it’s designed.
Further Reading: Florida Gators 2022 Transfer Roles: RB Montrell Johnson
OG O’Cyrus Torrence
UAA Communications/Ashley Ray
The media has largely fallen in love with [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] since his arrival in Gainesville, and I’m no exception. The transferring guard was considered an NFL talent after his exceptional 2021 season and he’s already familiar with the scheme Napier and offensive coordinator Rob Sale plan to implement. He’s basically a perfect fit for this team.
The question with Torrence isn’t whether he’s going to be competent, it’s how quickly he can get up to full speed in the upcoming season. He arguably has the most talent of any player along the offensive front, whose unglamorous role of opening running lanes and protecting Richardson can make or break the offense.
Further reading: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida | NFL Draft Scouting Report
WR Ricky Pearsall
AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
In last year’s version of this list, I singled out [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] as a dump-off security blanket for [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag]. [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] could serve a similar role for Richardson, though in a more intentional way. Whittemore is a possession receiver suited to Jones because of the former Gator’s nervy tendencies, but Pearsall has more wiggle in his game and opens up the middle of the field as the true slot option that Florida has lacked in recent seasons.
The impact of Pearsall’s snaps will be determined by three factors largely out of his control. First, how quickly will he be fully recovered from a bone bruise he suffered in camp? Second, how effective will Florida’s field-stretching options be? Third, how often will he play outside of the slot?
Further reading: Why did Ricky Pearsall pick Florida over Oregon? ‘It came down to Billy Napier and his staff,’ father says
C Kingsley Eguakun
UAA Communications/Jordan McKendrick
[autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag] took some people by surprise in his breakout game against Alabama in 2021, but his season was defined by an infuriating lack of consistency and discipline. In his second season as a starter, the Gators center has an opportunity to clean the slate with a new coaching staff and a new offensive scheme.
In that vein, Eguakun has been Florida’s most outspoken player in praising the improvements Napier and his crew have brought to Gainesville. He also specifically mentioned more productive film study sessions as one of the benefits of having both Rob Sale and [autotag]Darnell Stapleton[/autotag] coaching the offensive line. If he can get his mental game right, a more stable Eguakun could eliminate much of last season’s self-inflicted damage.
Further reading: Eguakun enjoying improved player experience under Napier
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